Supporting Childbirth in a Faraway Land

Where We Call Home.

For many women, the prospect of giving birth away from one's homeland can be daunting.

This woman provides emotional support for foreign expectant mothers in Japan.

Ludmilla Hirata, from Brazil.

I know how stressful and worrisome it is
to be pregnant in a foreign country.

I know I can offer support.

I'm scared!

She's a specialist called a doula, who assists pregnant and nursing women,

and even stays by their side during childbirth.

Thanks to Ludmilla's support,
I could give birth with peace of mind.

I wasn't alone.
She was with me.

Let's get a closer look at Ludmilla's work to appease the worries of expectant mothers.

About 250 kilometers west of Tokyo is Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The city is home to factories in the auto and musical instrument industries with many workers from abroad.

The majority of them are from Brazil, numbering around 10,000.

For five years now, Ludmilla has been supporting fellow Brazilian women through pregnancy and childbirth as a doula in Japan,

where language and cultural barriers can further add to the worries of expectant mothers.

Ever since she arrived here, Ludmilla has helped around ninety women.

Hi!

Visiting her today is Beatriz Tonon, who's due five months from now.

Beatriz has been in Japan for around two and a half years,

but with her limited skills in Japanese, she has few people in whom she can confide.

And so, she's asked Ludmilla for help.

Ludmilla provides assistance catered to the individual needs of expectant and nursing mothers.

Beatriz asked her for pre- and post-birth counseling, as well as for Ludmilla to accompany her when she gives birth.

During the final month of pregnancy, Beatriz can contact her 24/7.

Is your husband OK with natural birth?

- Yes.
- Good.

I just hope it won't be too painful.

While in Japan most women give birth naturally, in Brazil, more than 50% opt for a C-section.

Many Brazilian women are worried about a natural birth.

Through discussing with them, Ludmilla gradually appeases their concerns.

Anything else?

I want to be with my baby the first night.
I don't want us to be separated.

Please, feel free to tell me anything.

Here in Japan, my mother and relatives
can't be by my side.

That's why emotional support
is very important.

Ludmilla is here to answer my questions
and listen to my concerns...

over test results or anything else.
She's a huge help.

Ludmilla came to Japan in 2017.

Her husband Felipe is a pastor.

When he was assigned to a position in Japan, the whole family moved here together.

- Her baby now sleeps through the night.
- Must be a relief for her.

Like me.

- I sleep to forget my worries.
- Me, I read.

You do?

It was giving birth to her two sons that inspired Ludmilla to become a doula.

Mainly because it makes scheduling easier, the majority of childbirths in Brazil are done through C-section.

However, Ludmilla wanted to bring her children into the world herself, and so she decided to go for natural births.

The feeling of having done it
by myself was very powerful.

Now that I'd given birth,
I felt I could do anything.

To give women an environment
where they can give birth naturally...

without worry, I became a doula.

Providing support for expectant mothers who choose to give birth naturally,

the work of doulas has become well known in Europe and North America, and is also gaining recognition in Brazil.

After the birth of her younger son, Ludmilla studied with an organization that trained doulas and became certified in 2016.

Since then, she's been earning an income as a doula.

After moving to Japan, Ludmilla became aware of fellow Brazilian women

who were feeling insecure at the thought of having to give birth naturally in Japan.

So, she decided to continue her work as a doula here.

They wonder if they'll be able
to give birth safely here.

I knew I could help them.

But Ludmilla wouldn't be able to do her work here without her partner.

Long time no see!

Midwife, Takahashi Miho

In their work, doulas focus on the emotional aspect of childbirth.

They cannot monitor the mother's physical condition or deliver the baby.

That's why partnering with a midwife or obstetrician is necessary.

Although the profession isn't well known in Japan, Takahashi understands the important role doulas play.

Ludmilla is for her a trusted partner.

It allows us midwives to better focus
on how the pregnancy and birth progress.

The doula takes on the role of providing
emotional care to the mother.

I realized how a doula allows the mother
to receive better overall care.

Due to give birth here a month from now is Sara Esashika.

What made her decide to enlist the aid of Ludmilla was the distress she had felt when she gave birth to her son.

It was during the peak of the pandemic.

There was no one to accompany me
and visitors weren't allowed.

There was no one to encourage
and comfort me through the pain.

It was traumatizing.

Wrapping a large piece of cloth around Sara's waist, Ludmilla slowly rolls her from side to side.

It's a special relaxation technique often used by doulas.

She also massages her with her fingers.

Physical contact also helps build trust.

I felt afraid.
How can I put this?

I worry whether I'll be able
to raise two children.

Last time, becoming a mother scared me.

This time, I wonder
if I can raise two kids.

I'm not sure I have the confidence.

- Pregnancy and childbirth scare me.
- You'll know once your baby is born.

Talk to your baby.
Tell him or her, "Mommy's worried."

Your baby will understand.

Ludmilla regularly makes time in her busy schedule to visit a place she loves.

Lake Hamana is a thirty-minute drive from her home.

With her today is a family of friends.

Before or after I attend a birth,
I relax by coming in contact with nature.

The sound of the water and the wind
calm my heart and mind.

The work of a doula involves long periods of tension and stress.

For Ludmilla, this is an invaluable place where she can recharge her batteries to keep going.

One night, a call comes in.

Sara's labor pains have begun.

Ludmilla heads to the midwifery home.

Hi!

How are you?

How do you feel?

Now that I'm here, I'm getting nervous.

My contractions started.

It really hurts.

Ludmilla and Takahashi work in tandem to guide Sara through the big event.

Monitoring the baby's heartbeat and the contraction of Sara's uterus,

Takahashi makes sure everything is proceeding normally.

In case of an emergency, a nearby hospital is at the ready.

10-minute intervals now.

The head is in a tight spot.
Once it gets through, it'll be OK.

Just a little more.

Not leaving Sara's side for even a second, Ludmilla keeps comforting her.

You're OK?

The pain's a bit lighter now.

Can you give me an eye mask?

I can't concentrate.

Thank you.

Your baby's trying hard.

Six hours have passed since Sara's contractions began.

I'm getting scared.

I'm scared.

For her first birth, Sara was alone.

This time, Ludmilla is with her.

I'm not alone. You're with me.

Let it all out.

Six and a half hours since the start of her contractions.

The baby's coming.

- It's time.
- It's time?

Let's get her on the bed.

OK, let's take it slowly.

It's alright. The baby's coming.

We let the baby set the pace.

Congratulations!

A healthy 3.4-kilo baby girl - Sabrina makes her entrance into the world.

My daughter...

I gave birth!

I did it!

You did it, Sara.

- I did OK?
- You were amazing...

like no other.

Four days have passed.

Hi!

Ludmilla pays Sara a visit at the midwifery home.

- How's it going?
- It's tough.

The breastfeeding, I mean.

She drank from this side,
so it isn't too swollen.

But this side's so hard.

I'll apply a cold towel.
It'll help alleviate the pain.

Ludmilla's support continues after the birth for things like breastfeeding.

Hello there!
Long time no see!

Her mouth will get bigger.

May you grow strong and healthy.

I took care of Sara's overall
physical and emotional health.

Ms. Takahashi took care
of the technical side.

We worked in harmony,
just like an orchestra.

Ludmilla also makes efforts to get more Japanese people to know about the work of doulas.

Today, she's holding a training session with midwives in the area,

teaching them how to do the relaxation technique with the piece of cloth.

During contractions...

wrap the pelvis and rapidly shake it.
It'll help release the tension.

Every center should have doulas.
I want Ludmilla with us all the time.

Word of doulas' invaluable work continues to spread in Japan, thanks to Ludmilla's nurturing.

Hi, I'm Jeff.
I make traditional Japanese lanterns.

It's an exterior of "washi" paper mounted
on strips that I cut from bamboo.

I'll show you my work.

The region around Naka in Ibaraki
has a 400-year history of lantern making.

This is where I make the lanterns.
I made these this month.

I'll show you some I'm still working on.

These are frames.

I make lanterns of all
shapes and sizes...

wide ones, tall ones,
small ones, narrow ones, etc.

Paper lanterns are used at temples, shops,
or even as home decorations.

The lanterns at this station rest area
were made at Jeff's workshop.

Kaminarimon is famous.

I'd like to make one like that.

So big and impactful.

There're many kinds of lanterns.

They're so 'Japanese.'

preparing the materials.

First, I split the bamboo.

For that, I use this special tool.

This was really hard to learn at first.

It has to be perfectly horizontal.

It's now split into 11 strips.

He then prepares the bamboo strips
to assemble the lantern's inner structure.

This one's a little hard.

It broke.
It sometimes happens.

The bamboo's hardness varies.

Let's assemble the strips.

He mounts the strips on the frame.

To reinforce the structure,
he ties the horizontal strips together.

It's difficult to tie them in a straight line.

I couldn't at first,
but I got the hang of it.

I'll continue to improve.

Jeff got married in 2004 and moved to Japan.

Impressed by his father-in-law's work
making lanterns, he became his apprentice.

You've gained such precision.

- How's this?
- Good.

Iijima Minoru is my teacher.

He's been making lanterns
for almost 50 years.

I was drawn to this traditional
and unique work.

I'd always wanted to work with my hands.
I'm really happy.

I'm glad I found a successor.

Jeff is more Japanese than Japanese.
His sensibility...

his kindness and thoughtfulness.

He's passionate about his work.

I'm sure teaching requires
a lot of patience.

But he's been such a kind
and careful teacher.

covering the bamboo structure
with "washi" paper.

Larger lanterns require two workers
to apply the paper.

Done!

Feels great.

They let it dry for a day,
remove it from the frame, and it's complete.

I give him a score of 80.
He'll grow with experience.

I still have a long way to go
to reach his level.

My treasures are all these frames.

We couldn't work without them.

Some are about 50 years old.

My favorite is this 60cm-wide set.

I made my first lantern with this.

I worked hard and improved thanks to it.
So, it's truly a treasure to me.

Their biggest set of frames
is for 3m-tall lanterns.

I've never used it.

But if I don't get the chance...

I'll use it to make a lantern for myself.